The Obama administration took an old ploy to an absurd new level this week by shutting down public tours of the White House - and blaming the sequestration cuts.

We've seen this act before. It's known as the Washington Monument syndrome, in reference to the National Park Service's famous instinct for threatening to shutter popular attractions in response to the slightest of budget cuts.

No one should be under the illusion that stopping a partly volunteer-staffed tour operation is going to make even a tiny dent in the $85 billion that must be trimmed from federal spending this year.

It's not even good symbolism, because the sacrifice is not being inflicted on the president or his staff.

Nor is it good politics. Tickets for White House tours go through congressional offices: Does anyone doubt for a minute whom Republican members will blame when they tell their constituents they are out of luck if they want to visit 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.?

Rep. Louis Gohmert, R-Texas, has already fired back with an amendment that would ban federal dollars from transporting President Obama "to or from a golf course" until the White House tours resume.